PA UC income requirements: Minimum earnings needed to requalify for unemployment in 2025?

To requalify for a new UC benefit year in PA, you need to earn at least 6x your weekly benefit rate after the start of your previous claim AND meet the regular financial eligibility requirements. So with your previous WBR of $410, you'd need to earn at least $2,460 since your last claim started. But that's just one requirement. You also need: 1. At least 18 credit weeks in your base year (weeks where you earned at least $175) 2. Total base year wages of at least $2,900 3. At least 37% of your wages earned outside your highest quarter Your base year would be the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before you file a new claim.

when i refiled last year they told me i needed 6x my weekly benefit and new work. sounds like u got enough. the real question is did u work long enough now for them to use those wages? my cousin got denied becuz she didnt work long enough for them to use her new job in the calculations, sumthing about it being in the lag quarter?

Here's what matters for requalifying in PA: 1. The 6x rule - You must earn 6x your prior weekly benefit rate after starting your previous claim (sounds like you've done this) 2. Base year earnings - These must meet the minimum requirements again ($2,900 total, at least 37% outside highest quarter, 18+ credit weeks) 3. Timing - As others mentioned, when you file matters. The base year is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters before filing. If your new job's wages fall mostly in the lag quarter, you might need to wait to file. One option if you get laid off and your new wages aren't in your base year yet is to reopen your existing claim if you still have balance and time left in your benefit year. Another option is to wait until the quarter changes so your new wages count.

I just went through this exact same situation back in April! Got laid off last year, found new job, then got laid off again after 4 months. Was a total nightmare trying to get through to anyone at UC to explain my options. Spent 3 days calling nonstop and getting busy signals or disconnected.

WORST SYSTEM EVER!!! I had the same issue and got DENIED even though I worked enough hours!!! Then they said I had to PAY BACK $1800 because I didn't qualify for a new claim!!! I had to file an appeal and wait 9 WEEKS for a hearing, meanwhile NO MONEY coming in!!! The hearing examiner finally fixed it but the stress was unbelievable!!! Make sure you check which quarters they're using before you apply!!! The system is designed to trip you up and deny benefits even when you deserve them!!! Of course no one answers the phones to actually EXPLAIN anything!!

To answer your follow-up question - when you file would depend on when you get laid off and how your wages fall in the quarters. If you get laid off soon: - Filing in July-Sept 2025: Your base year would be April 2024-March 2025, so only 2 months of your new job would count - Filing in Oct-Dec 2025: Your base year would be July 2024-June 2025, so 5 months of your new job would count If you don't have enough wages in the first scenario, you might be able to use the Alternate Base Year which uses the most recent 4 quarters including the lag quarter. You'd need to request this specifically. If you do have enough other wages in your base year to qualify without the full 5 months of your new job, filing sooner might be better than waiting with no income.

One more important thing about requalifying: The 6x earnings rule applies specifically to establishing a second benefit year. That means you need to have earned at least 6x your weekly benefit rate in employment covered by UC after the start of your previous benefit year AND before filing for a new one. In your case with a $410 weekly benefit, you'd need at least $2,460 in covered earnings since your previous claim started in October 2024. With 5 months at $3,500/month, you've easily met that requirement. The timing issue others have mentioned about base year quarters is separate from this requirement but equally important for qualification.

So is the takeaway that it's better to wait until October to file a new claim if possible? I'm confused about what's best if OP gets laid off soon.

Just wanted to add some perspective as someone who's been through this twice in PA. The system is definitely confusing, but here's what I learned: The key is understanding that PA has multiple "tests" you need to pass: 1. The 6x earnings rule (which you've clearly met) 2. The base year wage requirements 3. The timing of when those wages fall in the quarters What helped me was calling UC and asking them to do a "wage inquiry" over the phone before I actually filed. They can tell you exactly what wages they have on record for each quarter and whether you'd qualify if you filed on a specific date. This saved me from filing at the wrong time and getting denied. Also, don't forget that if you still have weeks left on your previous benefit year (which ends in October), you might be able to reopen that claim temporarily if you get laid off before then. Sometimes that's better than rushing into a new claim with insufficient base year wages. The alternate base year option is real but you have to specifically request it - they won't automatically consider it if your regular base year doesn't work.

Just to add another layer to consider - if you do get laid off and decide to reopen your existing claim instead of filing a new one, your weekly benefit amount would stay the same ($410) since it's based on the wages from your original base year. However, there's a catch: if you earned significantly more at your new job compared to what was used to calculate your original benefit, you might actually qualify for a higher weekly benefit amount with a new claim (assuming the timing works out with the quarters). PA calculates your weekly benefit as roughly 50% of your average weekly wage during your highest earning quarter in the base year, up to the maximum. So if your new job pays more than your previous job did, it might be worth doing the math to see if a new claim would give you a higher benefit amount. The wage inquiry Bruno mentioned would help with this too - they can tell you not just if you qualify, but what your estimated weekly benefit would be under different scenarios.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the potential impact of your separation reason on requalifying. Since you mentioned the company is "really struggling," make sure you understand the difference between being laid off due to lack of work versus being terminated for other reasons. If you're laid off due to company downsizing/financial issues, that's typically considered "lack of work" and won't create any eligibility issues. But if there are performance concerns or attendance issues that could be construed as misconduct, that could complicate things even if you meet all the financial requirements. Also, when you do the wage inquiry that others suggested, ask specifically about how your separation pay or any unused vacation time might affect the timing of when you can start collecting benefits. Sometimes there's a waiting period if you receive certain types of separation payments. The good news is that with 5 months of work at decent wages, you should have multiple viable options whether you reopen your existing claim or file a new one - it's just about timing it right to maximize your benefits.

I went through something very similar last year! Got laid off, collected UC for about 4 months, then got a new job that only lasted 6 months before another layoff. The timing piece everyone is talking about is absolutely critical. Here's what I wish I had known: PA has this thing called a "wage inquiry" where you can call and they'll tell you exactly what wages they have on file for each quarter and whether you'd qualify. Do this BEFORE you file anything! It saved me from making a costly mistake. In my case, I had earned enough to meet the 6x rule but my new job wages mostly fell in the "lag quarter" so they wouldn't count toward my base year if I filed right away. I ended up waiting about 6 weeks until the quarter changed, which allowed more of my recent wages to count. Also, don't overlook the option to reopen your existing claim if you still have weeks and time left in your benefit year. Sometimes that's better than rushing into a new claim with insufficient wages. Your benefit year runs until October, so you might have that option if you get laid off soon. The key is having all the information before you make a decision. The UC reps can walk you through different scenarios during the wage inquiry call.